What Every Cat Owner Needs To Know About Cat Bladder Stones
Has this ever happened to you? You find your cat in his litter box, straining to urinate, crying out in pain. He can’t seem to pass any urine.Your vet tells you that your cat’s urinary problems are caused by cat bladder stones.
Bladder Stones In Cats
A bladder stone, or urolith, is made up from minerals present in your cat’s urine. These minerals sometimes form crystals that stick together to form a stone in your cat’s bladder.Bladder stones can vary in size, from grains of sand to small pebbles.
Your feline friend may have only one stone, or he could have several dozen.
Why do the minerals form crystals? There are several theories. Your cat’s urine may be high in minerals due to his diet, or it may be because he has an infection in his bladder.
Cat bladder stones usually take several months to form, but they can grow in just a couple of weeks.
Symptoms Of Cat Urinary Problems
If your cat suddenly starts urinating in places other than his litter box, this can indicate that he’s having a urinary problem. You may notice him licking his bottom more than usual, too.
Blood in the urine is another symptom to watch for. It can sometimes be hard to see this in cats as they usually go in the litter box. But if he’s urinating outside his box, you may see it.
If your cat is straining to urinate, or can’t pass any urine, this indicates a blockage. A urinary blockage is a veterinary emergency, and you need to get your cat to the vet as soon as possible.
Treatment For Cat Bladder Stones
Tests that are needed to verify that the problem is bladder stones include x-rays or an ultrasound. Once they are diagnosed, you vet will probably outline two treatment options.
An operation to remove the stones is one treatment option.An operation is the quickest way to solve the problem of a blockage.
The second is to try to dissolve the stones with a special diet.Unless the stones are causing blockages, this can be a good treatment option for most cats. However, it may not work well for all felines. The major reason is that it’s a slower treatment. It can take several weeks or months for the stones to dissolve. During this time your cat will still be passing bloody urine, and may still be straining to urinate.
Diet therapy doesn’t work with all stones. It’s helpful if the cat passes a stone so that you vet can analyze it to see what it’s made of. Some types of stones can’t be dissolved.
Some cats won’t eat the special diet food.Unfortunately, unless it’s the only thing your cat is eating, it’s not effective.
Are Herbal Pet Remedies The Answer To Cat Bladder Stones?
Many kitty owners are turning to herbal pet remedies to help solve cat urinary problems. These herbal and homeopathic remedies have been used by people across the world for centuries.Instead of just treating the symptoms, natural remedies help to correct the underlying problem.
It’s very important to buy these herbal pet remedies only from reputable companies that specialize in producing them. Do your homework and be sure that the company stands behind its products. You want to be sure that you find remedies especially formulated for pets.
These natural remedies are inexpensive and readily available.Side effects aren’t a concern when using these proven remedies.
Now that you have this information, you can take action to prevent cat bladder stones.
Posted under Miscellaneous Content
This post was written by admin on July 1, 2010
Do You Know If Your Cat Has A Feline Bladder Infection?
Has your pet ever been blindsided by a cat bladder infection? Don’t let this happen to your kitty.Protect your feline friend from cat bladder infection by reading this article.
Your Cat’s Urinary Tract
The kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra make up your cat’s urinary tract. The kidneys are constantly filtering waste products out of your cat’s blood. These waste products are carried out of the kidneys into the bladder by the ureters, tubes that run between your cat’s kidneys and his bladder.
The bladder is a muscular little bag that holds the urine until it leaves the body. The urine passes out of the body through the urethra.
This system usually works with no problems, but sometimes trouble arises in the form of a bladder infection.
Cat Bladder Infection Symptoms
The bladder is a sterile environment that normally doesn’t contain any bacteria. However, if bacteria find a way in, they can cause a bladder infection in your cat.
Symptoms of a feline bladder infection include:
- Urinating outside the litter box
- Straining to urinate or having trouble passing urine
- Crying out in pain when trying to urinate
- Bloody urine
- Drinking a lot of water
Inflammation in the bladder is what causes these symptoms, not the infection itself.If your cat is being treated with an anti-inflammatory drug, he could have a bladder infection without showing signs of inflammation.
Be aware that if your cat can’t urinate at all, this is a blockage, which is a veterinary emergency. Get your cat to the vet as soon as possible.
How Your Vet Treats Cat Bladder Infection
Your vet will probably prescribe antibiotics to clear up the infection. Tests ordered may include a urinalysis to check for white blood cells and crystals in the urine, and a urine culture to identify which bacteria is causing the problem. The results of the urine culture can help determine which is the best antibiotic to use.
Tips For Preventing Cat Bladder Infection
There are several ways to prevent your cat from getting a bladder infection in the first place.
First, try to feed your cat canned food.Bladder infection is more common in cats that eat only dry food. Cats are meant to get most of their water from their food, and moisture levels are much too low in dry cat food.
Second, your cat must have access to lots of pure, clean water at all times.With all the recent concerns about drinking water, it’s a good idea to give your cat filtered water to drink.
Prevent Cat Bladder Infection With Natural Remedies For Pets
People have been using herbal and homeopathic remedies for bladder problems for centuries.”Are these remedies available for cats?” is the question many cat owners are asking.
The answer is yes.Find a remedy that has been produced especially for companion animals, not humans. The remedy should include the herbs uva ursi and barberry, along with the homeopathic remedies Cantharis and Staphysagris. These ingredients have a proven track record for treating bladder problems.
You’ll also want to find a remedy that’s safe enough to give your cat every day to prevent cat urinary problems. It needs to be easy to administer, too.If you have to fight your cat every day to get a pill into him, you won’t use the remedy for long. Be sure you purchase your remedies only from a company with a good reputation that stands behind its products.
Now it’s time for you to put these tips into action so your cat won’t suffer from cat urinary problems. Click on any link in this article to learn how to help your furry friend.
Posted under Miscellaneous Content
This post was written by admin on June 28, 2010
